Category Archives: uniforms

While still not the norm, homeschooling nevertheless has been on the rise in the last few years. And even though some countries deem homeschooling undesirable – and, more alarmingly, illegal – most governments of developed nations like the US, Ireland, Denmark, and the UK have legalized homeschooling and consider it an appropriate alternative to regular schooling.

An article by FamilyEducation.com reports that the number of homeschooled kids rises between 7% to 15% each year and, at present, goes over the 2 million mark. Evidently, many parents see the benefit of homeschooling. For instance, the educational flexibility – the rate at which you teach your child the intricacies of Dr. Seuss’s rhymes can slow down or speed up accordingly, depending on his level of comprehension. No other student will slow him down to the point of boredom, or hurry him up to the point of learning inadequacy. He can develop at his own pace.

All homeschooling advocates do not agree on everything though. For instance, uniforms. Some parents say uniforms could bring about the loss of a sense of individuality for the kids.

It’s all a matter of perspective. Instead of the point above, think of it as allowing your children to express their own identities despite all of them wearing the same thing.

Homeschooled children can wear uniforms to foster individual expression of creativity by adding their own flare to the outfit.

A certain level of conformity to laws and social standards must occur as we live in this world. However, that doesn’t mean that people have to totally be the same in every way. The key? Striking a balance between conformity and individualism. Making your kids learn that early on through creative expression despite dressing in similarly looking uniforms is a good starting point.

You can get your kids uniforms that have similar motifs, but don’t exactly match each other 100%. This can instill in them the idea that, even if, at first glance, they are dressed the same, little touches here and there differentiate them from each other.

When shopping for homeschooling uniforms, quality is, of course, a factor to consider. Marks & Spencer’s Testing Overview page should give you proper guidelines on quality control. However, foremost on your mind should be the aforementioned flourishes to give each child’s uniform its own mark. If you feel so inclined, you can even let your kids do this part to further foster their individual creativity.

As stated, it’s all a matter of perspective. Amidst the uniformity, there can still be individuality. Instilling this value early on can only mean good things for your kids’ intellectual development.

And… they’re off! No, not exactly. They are still here, at home. And yet, they are learning. A lot. Isn’t that amazing? Our homeschooling journey started yesterday, on September 1. Of course, Self-University Week started yesterday, too. When I made this schedule I did not know about this neat coincidence.

I dressed the kids up in their school uniforms. DD asked, “Do I have to wear this all the time?” She’s such a girlie girl, she wants the scoop on her outfitting options. “Only for school time.” She accepted it.

I chose to buy school uniforms because

a. children look cute in uniforms.

b. it helps them get into “school mode”.

c. we are a private school. Well, sort of.

d. we can use them on field trips.

The routine wasn’t much different than before, but we did take pictures.

DD and I

We started with our Accountable Kids morning cards, followed by a devotional. We are using GraceLink Kindergarten for our Bible story time. This week’s lesson is about Baby Moses. It find it providential, because when God came to me about homeschooling two years ago, He used the story of Baby Moses. Another neat coincidence for our first day of homeschooling.

DS tutored himself through Simple and Motorized Mechanisms from LEGO Education while I worked with my daughter on preschool activities. She was very eager to learn, but got silly after 10-15 minutes. That was my cue she was done. I sent her to play by herself, which she was happy to do, while DS and I tackled the 3 Rs for 30 minutes.

They had recess and lunch. Then, they had P.E. and art (drawing with chalk).

That was it. Easy, peasy, homeschoolese.

DS and I

However, it was not smooth. In the early morning, our cat left us a calling card on the living room carpet. Later on, as I reached for a box, I knocked down a tray. Glass shattered and contents spilled out. My husband and I spent fifteen minutes cleaning. Just when I thought I could start teaching, I noticed the magnetic letters I had chosen so carefully the night before for my son’s reading lesson were missing. DD had noticed them in my tote bag and put them back up where they belong. So I had to pick them out all over again.

How do I come up with the four hours of homeschooling instruction required by the State of Tennessee? I’ll tell you in a future blog post. For now, I covet your prayers on our behalf. We need wisdom to guide our children well. Thank you in advance for praying for us!